Drop Box Available For Absentee Ballots In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A secure drop-off box is an option for returning absentee ballots for Fairfax County voters as early voting is underway for the Nov. 3 election.

The Virginia General Assembly voted to permit drop boxes as election officials see an increased demand for absentee voting for the Nov. 3 election. The drop box in Fairfax County is located outside the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA. The box is available 24 hours a day. Once additional early voting sites open on Oct. 14, drop boxes will be available at those sites during early voting hours.

Absentee ballots may also be returned at any polling place on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3) from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters should follow the instructions included with the ballot and return it to the Fairfax County Office of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. If you are returning the ballot by-mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the office by noon on the third day after the election (Nov. 6).

In-person early absentee voting started on Sept. 18 and will run through Oct. 31. On the first day of early voting, a long line formed outside the Fairfax County Government Center. The Fairfax County Government Center is initially the only in-person early voting location, but 13 satellite sites will open on Oct. 14 and another will open for Saturdays on Oct. 17.

Voters no longer need an excuse for early voting 45 days before an election due to new state legislation. Voters still have to show an acceptable form of identification to vote in person, but it no longer has to be a photo ID.

The Nov. 3 election will include races for president and vice president of the United States, one member of the U.S. Senate, members of the U.S. House of Representatives from the 8th, 10th and 11th congressional districts, Town of Herndon mayor and council, two amendments to the Constitution of Virginia, and bond questions for Fairfax County. See sample ballots for voters in the 8th, 10th and 11th congressional districts as well as the Town of Herndon.

Voters can submit an application for an absentee ballot, register to vote or check registration status, and check their polling place at vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation.

Here are the key dates to remember:

• Friday, Sept. 18 — Early voting begins. In-person early voting is available at the Office of Elections, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13 — Last day to register to vote or update registration for the Nov. 3 election. The deadline is 5 p.m. in person and 11:59 p.m. online.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Satellite early voting locations open across Fairfax County.
• Friday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. — Application deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed.
• Saturday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. — Deadline to vote early in person.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. — Deadline to return completed ballot to registrar. If returning your ballot by-mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the registrar by noon on the third day after the election (Nov. 6).
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 — Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.